A TREASURED church and town landmark has received a massive Easter boost with news it has secured further funding to carry out a £200,000 restoration.

Rhyl’s Grade II* listed St Thomas’ Church has received an extra £44,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help it undertake a major preservation project.

The latest funding will pay for £90,000-worth of essential stonework repairs, re-pointing, and repairs to the leaded windows.

Work will start at the end of April and take 14 weeks to complete.

Vicar of Rhyl Canon John Glover welcomed the announcement yesterday.

He said: “This is wonderful news for the parish and indeed the whole town, who use and rely on St Thomas' for so many events and activities over and above its importance as a place of worship for nearly 150 years.

“We are hugely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their continuing generous support, without which this work would simply be far beyond our means.

“I am sure the lottery players who have made this possible will understand our deep appreciation.”

Built in 1861, St Thomas's can seat 1,000 parishioners beneath a bell tower and 203-foot spire.

The church stands in a conservation area and has been recognised by the Heritage Lottery Fund as a focal point for the town and an important meeting place for the whole community.

A total of £200,000 is expected to be invested in the church with other support from heritage group Cadw and the church’s own fundraising.

But Canon Glover added that the pressure was now on locals to make up the rest of the funding needed for the restoration work to go ahead.

He said: “It will finalise the vital restoration of the outside of this important building which has been ravaged by sea air and in urgent need of attention.

“This will still mean we shall have to find at least £15,000 from within the parish as our contribution but I am confident that local people will get behind us to ensure that St Thomas's continues to play a key role in the life of Rhyl and district.”